Golf bag accessory rack system and method

ABSTRACT

A golf bag system that includes a golf bag having a door and a plurality of inserts included on a front surface of a golf bag. The golf bag system is useful for providing an organized system and method for golf accessories to improve the game playing experience. The bag includes a golf club receiving slots around the outside of the bag. In some versions, the slots are customized to conform to a specific golf club.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/438, 982, filed on Feb. 22, 2017, pending. Theentire contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/438, 982 areincorporated into this document by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the providedinformation is prior art or material to the described or claimedinventions.

Description of Related Art

Golf equipment encompasses the various items that are used to play thesport of golf. Types of equipment include golf balls, implementsdesigned for striking the golf ball, devices that aid in the process ofplaying a stroke, and items that, in some way, improve the golfexperience. Golf bags are commonly used devices to aid in storing andtransporting the various items used to play golf. Present-day golf bagsprovide a disorganized system for storing the golf equipment. Items canbecome misplaced, becoming frustrating for a user to enjoy the playingexperience. Therefore, a suitable solution is required.

US Pub. No. 2013/0153615 to Brian Bond Gibson relates to a Golf CartClub Rack. The described golf cart blub rack includes two parallelshelves forming a frame that can be attached to the carry golf bag frameof a motorized golf cart to accommodate two player's golf clubs andaccessories. The two shelves have notched cavities to hold the maximumnumber of clubs a golfer may legally carry during a round of golf. Thecavities hold the clubs securely in position while offering easy accessand visibility for removal and replacement during a round of golf. Thegolf cart club rack is molded to hold and secure both right-hand andleft-hand golf clubs. The golf cart club rack carries golf accessoriesrequired during a round, including individual locations for tees, balls,club brush, ball retriever, and umbrella, as well as provision for aseparate accessory box. The rack can also be fitted with a club lock foradded security.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Given the preceding disadvantages inherent in the known golf bag art,the present disclosure provides a novel golf bag system and method. Thegeneral purpose of the present disclosure, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a golf bag system andmethod.

The disclosed golf bag system comprises a golf bag with a back surface,a front surface, a left surface, and a right surface with golf clubreceiving slots vertically disposed in one or more of the surfaces.Generally, golf club receiving slots face outward. In some versions, theslots are ½ to ⅞ of the length of the golf club destined for the slot.In some versions, the slot has an interior shape that conforms to theshape of a golf club grip and may have other slot regions in which theinterior shape conforms to the shape of a golf club shaft. This shapingfacilitates the golf bag's ability to retain golf clubs within the slotsduring use. Various versions of the golf bag include 2 to 14 slots or 2to 10 places for golf clubs. In some versions, ten of the slots areadapted to be slots for irons 20, and three of the slots are adapted tobe slots for woods 10. For instance, a useful golf bag comprises fiveiron slots on the left side, five iron slots on the right side, threewood slots on the back, and a holder for the putter 30 somewhere in thegolf bag, attached to the golf bag cart, or attached to the back of thegolf bag. And in some versions, the golf bag includes a slot for aputter 30 on an outside surface. In some versions, the slot has a shapethat conforms to the golf club grip and shaft along most of the slotlength or all of the slot length to grip the club tightly during use.

In these or other versions, the golf bag comprises tubes to receive anddispense golf balls and golf-tee holders situated to dispense golf teesthrough a side, such as the front, of the golf bag.

In certain embodiments, each club has a lock mechanism that prevents theclubs from moving and twisting around. The lock opens when you pull thegolf club out and closes when you push the club back in. The locksresemble fingers on a hand. When the palm faces up, and an individualpushes in the middle of the palm, the fingers close and secure the club.The gripping mechanism for the golf clubs can be made with a key lock ornumbers lock to prevent clubs from being stolen during storage ortransport.

According to another embodiment, a golf bag system method of use is alsodisclosed herein. The golf bag system includes removing accessories fromthe golf bag, inserting accessories into the golf bag after use,optionally opening door 1117 to access interior compartment 2117, andoptionally closing door 1117 to remove access to the internal storage.The method may further comprise locking the golf clubs and unlocking thegolf clubs, as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, agolf bag system and method, constructed and operative according to theteachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf bag system during an ‘in-use’condition.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf bag system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another view of the golf bag system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of a golf bag overhead.

FIG. 4B is another schematic view of a golf bag overhead.

FIG. 4C is another schematic view of a golf bag overhead.

FIG. 4D is another schematic view of a golf bag overhead.

FIG. 4E is another schematic view of a golf bag overhead.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the golf bagsystem.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an alternative version of the golf bag system.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative version of the golf bag system.

FIG. 8 is a back view of an alternative version of the golf bag system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Woods 10 Wedges 20 Irons 20 Putter 30 Golf bagsystem 100 Golf bag 110 Left surface 111 Right surface 113 Surface 115Front surface 117 Top 118 Ground - contact base 119 Golf - ball sleeve136 Ball - retention opening 137 Golf - tee inserts 138 Method 500 Stepone 501 Step two 502 Step three 503 Step four 504 Golf - club receivingslot 1000 Vertical opening 1001 Club region 1010 Profile 1011 Club -less region 1015 Door 1117 Optional golf bag cart 2000 Interiorcompartment 2117 Slots 7000 Slot 7001 Slot 7002

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to golfbags and, more particularly, to a golf bag system and method as used toimprove the playing experience of golf.

Generally, golf bags have been utilized for improving the golf-playingexperience. Many golf bags include the same design where golf clubs arecontained within one compartment with no separations. This design oftenallows golf clubs to become misplaced or inhibit the movement ofremoving other golf clubs. Furthermore, it may be frustrating for a userto find the type of golf club they desire to use.

The present disclosure may provide for a more functional andaesthetically pleasing golf bag. Golf clubs may be separately stored onthe outside. Furthermore, the golf clubs may be organized by category(i.e., woods 10, irons and wedges 20, putters 30, etc.). By using thisdesign, the present disclosure may provide golf clubs that arepositioned and organized in a way that may make it easier and moreconvenient for the user to access. The golf bag system may be describedas a reversed golf bag platform.

FIGS. 1-4 show various views of a golf bag system 100. FIG. 1 shows golfbag system 100. Here, the golf bag system 100 may be used to organizegolf accessories to improve playing golf. As illustrated, golf bagsystem 100 may include a golf bag 110 having left surface 111 opposite aright surface 113, and a back surface 115 opposite a front surface 117that is open. Additionally, golf bag 110 may include a top 118 that issubstantially sloped toward front surface 117 and opposite aground-contact base 119 that is flat.

Golf bag 110 can comprise golf ball tube 136 with ball-retentionopenings 137 located in the front surface 117.

Golf bag 110 may also comprise golf-tee inserts 138 that have dimensionsto hold golf tees. In some versions, golf-tee inserts 138 are locatedbelow golf ball tube 136.

FIG. 2 shows golf bag system 100 of FIG. 1. As above, golf bag system100 may include golf bag 110 having left surface 111 opposite rightsurface 113 and back surface 115 opposite front surface 117.Additionally, golf bag 110 may include top 118 being sloped toward frontsurface 117 and opposite base 119. Front surface 117 contains door 1117.Golf bag 110 can use friction to retain golf clubs in slot 1000. In suchversions, vertical opening 1001 may have an engineered width. Anengineered width is defined as being smaller than the golf club grip orthe golf club shaft to retain the club in the golf club receiving slot1000, but large enough to slightly deform as the club passes throughslot 1001.

The golf club shape changes depending on where along the shaft the shapeis measured. Golf clubs have diameters and cross-sections that varyalong the length of the club. These variations create a profile 1011 (orinterior shape). In some versions, slot 1000, instead of being circularor conical, has a reverse or mirror profile from that of the golf club.These types of slot versions contact the club more extensively thanslots that lack a reverse or mirror profile.

Golf bag 110 has slots 1000 located at a variety of positions. Someversions have slots 1000 located along two or more or three or moresides of golf bag 110. One version of golf bag 110 has ten slots forirons 20 or irons and wedges 20, five located in left surface 111, andfive located on right surface 113. Some versions have three slots forwoods 10 located along back surface 115.

Golf bag 110 can use gravity to retain the club in slot 1000. In theseversions, the club would pass into slot 1000 from the top, grip first,for example.

FIG. 3 shows golf bag 110 with interior compartment 2117.

FIG. 4 shows overhead schematic views of horizontal cross-sections ofvarious versions of golf bag 110.

Golf club slot 1000 sits vertically on the golf bag 110. In someversions, golf bag 110 has more than one club slot 1000. In variousversions, slot 1000 sits along the perimeter of golf bag 110 (lookingdownward on golf bag 110). Spacing between slots 1000 need not, but can,be uniform. In some versions, slots 1000 sits on one-half tothree-quarters of the perimeter defining club region 1010 and club-lessregion 1015.

In some versions, club-less region 1015 sits along front surface 117.This arrangement allows access to interior compartment 2117 locatedbehind compartment door 1117, golf ball tubes or sleeves 136, andgolf-tee inserts 138 without disturbing golf clubs located in the golfclub slots 1000. Golf-tee inserts 138 extend into golf bag 110. Thesegolf-tee inserts 138 have a length and width sized to fit regulation ornon-regulation golf tees. In some versions, friction retains a golf-teeplaced in golf-tee insert 138.

Golf ball sleeve 136 sits inside golf bag 110 and exits a surface ofgolf bag 110 at or through ball-retention opening 137. Golf ball sleeve136 comprises a mechanism to bias golf balls toward ball-retentionopening 137. For instance, a spring inside of golf ball sleeve 136 topush the golf balls upward toward the opening 137 is a suitable biasingmechanism. In some versions, golf-tee insert 138 retains golf ballsinside of golf ball sleeve 136. For instance, golf-tee insert 138 couldhave a diameter slightly smaller than tube 136 and a golf ball. Thisstructural arrangement retains the golf ball but allows it to releasewhen grasped.

Golf club slot 1000 receives a golf club and supports the clubvertically. In some versions, slot 1000 fixes the clubhead up and gripdown. Typically, slot 1000 has a vertical opening 1001 through which theclub passes. FIG. 4A shows golf bag 110 with a square cross-section.Slots 1000 are arranged along two sides of golf bag 110. FIG. 4B showsgolf bag 110 with slots arranged along three sides of golf bag 110. FIG.4C shows golf bag 110 with a rectangular cross-section. And FIG. 4Dshows golf bag 110 with a triangular cross-section.

FIG. 4E shows golf bag 110 with a circular cross-section and slots 1000arranged around part of the circle's perimeter. Versions of golf bag 110with different cross-sections, as discussed here, are merely exemplaryand other shapes and sizes are within the scope of this invention.

In use, clubs are installed in the slots 1000. Other accessories can beplaced into the interior compartment 2117. Golf balls can be placed intogolf ball sleeve 136, passing through opening 137, and golf tees can beplaced in golf-tee inserts 138.

When desired, a user retrieves an appropriate club from slot 1000 andoptionally retrieves a golf ball or a golf-tee.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for using 500 a golf bagsystem 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Inparticular, method 500 golf bag system 100 may include one or morecomponents or features of golf bag system 100, as described above. Asillustrated, method 500 golf bag system may include the steps of stepone 501, removing accessories from golf bag 110; step two 502, insertingaccessories into golf bag 110 after use; step three 503, opening door1117 to access interior compartment 2117; and step four 504, closingdoor 1117.

Step three 503 and step four 504 are optional steps and may not beimplemented in all cases. Optional steps of method 500 are illustratedusing dotted lines in FIG. 5 to distinguish them from the other steps ofmethod 500.

FIG. 6 depicts an alternate version of the golf bag system 100. Thisfigure shows front surface 117, golf ball sleeve 136, golf-tee inserts138, and left surface 111 for orientation of this version withpreviously described versions. This figure shows woods 10, 3 of themacross the back of the golf bag. Ten individual irons 20, includingwedges, are located on the golf bag, five clubs on the right side, andfive clubs on the left side. Putter 30 is not shown in this figure.

FIG. 7 depicts an alternative version of the golf bag system 1000. Thisfigure shows the right side of the golf bag system 100 depicted in FIG.6. Putter 30 mounts on the back of the golf bag system 100. In thisview, the optional golf bag cart 2000 is depicted as well. FIG. 7 showsa more direct view of the irons 20. This version of the golf bag system100 holds the irons partially using gravity with the grip orienteddownward and partially using slots 7000 on the top 118 of system 100that conform to the shape of the irons 20 or otherwise secure the irons20 in place.

FIG. 8 depicts a back view of the golf bag system 100 of FIGS. 6 and 7.This back provides a better view of how putter 30 connects to the golfbag system 100 in this version. A slot 7001 receives the grip of putter30, and a slot 7002 receives a lower portion of the shaft of putter 30.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf bag comprising at least a back surface, aleft surface, and a right surface and a golf-club receiving slotvertically disposed in a surface facing outward.
 2. The golf bag ofclaim 1 wherein the length of the slot is ½ to ⅞ of the length of thegolf club.
 3. The golf bag of claim 2 wherein the slot has an interiorshape with a portion that conforms to the shape of a golf club grip. 4.The golf bag of claim 3 wherein the interior shape further comprises aportion that conforms to the shape of a golf club shaft.
 5. The golf bagof claim 4 comprising two to fourteen slots.
 6. The golf bag of claim 5wherein 10 of the slots are iron slots that sit in or on the left andright surfaces.
 7. The golf bag of claim 6 wherein three of the slotsare wood slots that sit in or on the back surface.
 8. The golf bag ofclaim 3 comprising 2-14 slots.
 9. The golf bag of claim 8 wherein 10 ofthe slots are iron slots that sit in or on the left and right surfaces,and three of the slots are wood slots that sit in or on the backsurface.
 10. The golf bag of claim 2 further comprising a golf-balltube.
 11. The golf bag of claim 10 further comprising 2-14 slots. 12.The golf bag of claim 11 wherein 10 of the slots are iron slots that sitin or on the left and right surfaces.
 13. The golf bag of claim 12wherein three of the slots are wood slots that sit in or on the backsurface.
 14. The golf bag of claim 2 comprising 2-14 slots.
 15. The golfbag of claim 14 wherein 10 of the slots are iron slots that sit in or onthe left and right surfaces.
 16. The golf bag of claim 15 wherein threeof the slots are wood slots that sit in or on the back surface.
 17. Thegolf bag of claim 1 comprising 2-14 slots.
 18. The golf bag of claim 17wherein 10 of the slots are iron slots that sit in or on the left andright surfaces.
 19. The golf bag of claim 18 wherein three of the slotsare wood slots that sit in or on the back surface.
 20. The golf bag ofclaim 1 wherein the slot has an interior shape with a portion thatconforms to the shape of a golf-club grip and a portion that conforms tothe shape of a golf club shaft.